How to Braid a Horse for Horse Shows

Step by step directions for beautiful hunter braids It is a requirement that you braid a horse for horse shows at rated equitation or hunter shows. Most jumpers do not braid for shows as jumper attire is generally more casual except in the bigger shows.To braid a horse well is not an easy task! Making beautiful hunter braids in a horse's mane requires lots of skill and practice. At bigger rated competitions, most owners do not braid their own horse. Instead, professionals braid a horse for a fee, turning out beautiful hunter braids in about 45 minutes. However, most people who show locally and on a budget must learn to braid a horse so that they can do their own hunter braids at horse shows.Below are some step by step directions and photos to help you learn how to braid a horse. If you are trying to learn or improve your hunter braiding skills, I recommend that you print this webpage and take it to the barn with you. Use the directions to make a few braids each time you are at the barn. This way, you will have time to practice before the show instead of feeling the pressure to learn how to make perfect hunter braids on the morning of a show. Good luck and happy braiding! Braid a Horse Step by Step1. Dampen the mane with a sponge of spray bottle of water. This makes the mane much easier to work with. Tease out a section of hair. The width of the section depends on the thickness of the horse's mane. For thinner manes, I might want a 1" section, but for thick manes I might only work with a 1/2". Use a metal pulling comb to part out the section of mane you are braiding at the crest

2. Start the braid close to the crest pulling down and holding the sections between you fingers as you go. You must keep the braid very tight. When you have braided the hair half way down, take a piece of yarn that is about a foot in length and insert the middle of the yarn into the braid so that half of the yarn is incorporated in one strand and half in the second strand. Continue braiding down keeping the braid tight by holding it between your fingers. The yarn will be braided in with the mane.

3. When you reach the bottom of the braid, hold all three strands together. Now take the two strands of yarn with the other hand and wrap the yarn around the braid once, then pull the end of the yarn through the loop of yarn you've made and pull tight securing the end of the braid. Braid down the entire mane this way. You will have a row of neat braids of the same thickness with yarn hanging down from the ends. Now it's time to pull the braids through.

4. Pull hunter braids through by inserting a rug hook or pull-through tool through the top of the braid right in the center at the crest. Thread the yarn into the tool and pull it through the top of the braid. Now pull the braid under by pulling up on the yarn with one hand and gently pulling down on the braid loop with the other hand until the end of the braid meets the crest. Keeping tension on the braid as described helps the braid lie straight and flat.

5. Now gently separate the two strands of yarn sticking out the top of the braid and bring one down each side of the braid. Tie a half knot firmly underneath of the braid.

6. Next bring the strands of yarn to the top of the braid, one on each side of the braid and tie a knot on top of the braid near the middle. You want this knot tied firmly but not so tight that it prevents the braid from laying flat. Trim the extra yarn and you have a finished hunter braid!

Other Tips on How to Braid a HorseBefore you start to braid a horse,the mane must be "pulled" or shortened to the appropriate length. This also helps thin the mane. If you don't do this first you will not get good looking hunter braids, so make sure to see the following link on how to pull a mane before you braid. Pulling should be done days or a week in advance of when you plan to braid the horse.

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